Federal Republic of Nigeria · entrepreneur

Business Permit (foreign-owned company)

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 10 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

The Ministry of Interior authorisation a wholly or partly foreign-owned company needs to operate legally in Nigeria, and the precondition for obtaining an expatriate quota and CERPAC permits.

No sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyA company-level authorisation that remains valid for the operating entity; confirm current validity and renewal terms on the official page.In flux
Processing time
Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Ministry of Interior Citizenship and Business Department page.
Government fees
Indicative only - government fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official Ministry of Interior page.
Typical duration
A company-level authorisation that remains valid for the operating entity; confirm current validity and renewal terms on the official page.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
No

In short

As of 9 July 2026, the Business Permit (foreign-owned company) for Federal Republic of Nigeria is an unsponsored Nigeria immigration route. Sources: official Federal Republic of Nigeria government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/nigeria/business-permit#answer

What is the Business Permit (foreign-owned company) in Federal Republic of Nigeria?

Business Permit (foreign-owned company) is an unsponsored Nigeria route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - government fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official Ministry of Interior page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Ministry of Interior Citizenship and Business Department page; typical duration is A company-level authorisation that remains valid for the operating entity; confirm current validity and renewal terms on the official page. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

The Business Permit is issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior, through its Citizenship and Business Department, to a foreign-owned corporate body registered in Nigeria. No company with foreign ownership can lawfully operate or employ expatriates without it. It is a company-level authorisation rather than an individual immigration status, but it sits at the base of the expatriate-employment chain: business permit, then expatriate quota, then STR visa and CERPAC for the individual workers. Processing moved onto the Ministry of Interior Expatriate Administration System (EAS).

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm the company is incorporated in Nigeria with foreign ownership and that a business permit is required before it can employ expatriates.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Assemble incorporation documents, capital evidence and the shareholding structure required by the Ministry of Interior.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    File the business permit application with the Citizenship and Business Department, using the digital system where required.

  4. After approval

    Use the business permit as the basis to apply for an expatriate quota and then individual STR visas and CERPACs for staff.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Business Permit (foreign-owned company), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Nigeria. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Business Permit (foreign-owned company) route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Business Permit (foreign-owned company).

    Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Is a Business Permit an immigration status for me personally?+

No. The Business Permit authorises the company to operate and to employ expatriates; individual residence and work authorisation comes through the expatriate quota, STR visa and CERPAC. Confirm the current company requirements on the official Ministry of Interior Citizenship and Business Department page.

Do I need a Business Permit before hiring foreign staff?+

A foreign-owned company generally needs the Business Permit before it can obtain an expatriate quota and employ foreign nationals. Confirm the exact sequence and documentation on the official Ministry of Interior page.

Does my company have to be incorporated in Nigeria before I can apply for a Business Permit?+

Yes. The Business Permit is issued to a company registered in Nigeria with the Corporate Affairs Commission that has foreign ownership, and a company not yet incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission is a common reason applications fail. Confirm the documentation on the official Ministry of Interior page.

What is the order of approvals to set up a foreign-owned company and hire expatriates in Nigeria?+

A foreign-owned company generally needs a Business Permit before it can obtain an expatriate quota and employ foreign nationals: the sequence is business permit, then expatriate quota, then the STR visa and CERPAC for individual workers. Confirm the documentation on the official Ministry of Interior Citizenship and Business Department page.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Ministry of Interior (Nigeria)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology